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Mali’s military government on Thursday offered a $3.5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or killing of the leader of Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch.
Iyad Ag Ghaly, head of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), is the region’s most wanted man as the leader of the biggest jihadist force battling the juntas ruling many of the Sahel states.
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Ghaly, a former Malian diplomat and Tuareg rebel, is also on the US terrorist list and the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Since its creation in 2017, his JNIM has been blamed for a number of daring attacks on the military authorities.
In a statement read on national television, the military-run security ministry offered a two billion CFA francs ($3.5 million) bounty for information helping the “capture or neutralisation” of Ghaly and $2.5 million for one of his deputies, Amadou Kouffa. It also offered cash for intelligence on two Tuareg rebel leaders.
“These individuals are actively sought by the authorities for their alleged involvement in the planning, organisation and execution of terrorist acts that have threatened the safety of people and their property within the national territory,” the statement said.
Mali has been confronted by nearly a decade and a half of unrest led by the JNIM and fighters associated with the Islamic State group, as well as by criminal gangs. The country has been ruled by the military since a 2020 coup.
The United States Congress has asked the country’s Secretary of State to engage the Nigerian government on the trial, conviction and imprisonment of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The development followed a resolution passed by the Congress on May 22, 2026. A copy of the resolution was obtained by The Eastern Updates on Tuesday.
The resolution, numbered H.Res. 1321, followed a motion by Congressman John James. James, in the motion, asked the Congress to call on the Government of Nigeria to ensure that all legal proceedings involving Kanu are conducted in full accordance with Nigeria’s constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments.
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Kanu was on November 20, 2025, sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court presided by Justice James Omotosho, following his conviction on terrorism charges filed against him by the Nigerian government. The IPOB leader is currently serving the life sentence in Sokoto prison.
Kanu and his lawyers had kicked against the judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho in the terrorism trial, arguing that his conviction was based on repealed laws.
The pro-Biafra activist had filed an appeal to challenge his conviction but hearing in the suit is yet to commence.
In the resolution adopted by the Congress, US lawmakers asked the Nigerian government to ensure that Kanu’s trial is conducted in compliance with constitutional obligations and international human rights commitments.
The US Secretary of State was asked to engage the Nigerian authorities on the matter, as well as issues relating to Kanu’s detention conditions.
Kanu and his representatives had frowned at his detention in the Sokoto prison, citing the distance to Abuja, where the appeal is expected to be heard. They argued that the distance could undermine the preparation and presentation of the appeal. Concerns were also raised about the IPOB leader’s safety in the prison located in the seat of the caliphate.
The US Congress specifically asked the Nigerian government to consider a report on Kanu’s detention by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and take appropriate action on the findings.
